Recipient of the Governor-General's Achievement Award Scheme for the parish of St. Elizabeth, Mr. Caswell Daley (right) receiving his award from Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall, at a ceremony at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort in Montego Bay on Thursday September 21. - Photo by Noel Thompson

Being selected as a recipient of the Governor-General's Achievement Award means great satisfaction for Caswell Daley.

After receiving his award at a ceremony at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort in Montego Bay, Mr. Daley said that he was overjoyed and felt honoured to have been chosen for such prestigious award. He is the 2006 awardee for St. Elizabeth.

"I feel so ecstatic. I feel quite satisfied that my service over the years has been recognised," declared Mr. Daley. "I need to thank the many people who assisted me to perform and for acknowledging my service and recommending me for the award.

Their support throughout the entire period is highly appreciated.

Mr. Daley is the first of ten children born to the late Cyril and Ruth Daley of Kilmarnock, St. Elizabeth. During his early years, he attended the Kilmarnock and Nightingale Grove Elementary schools. He subsequently sat and passed the first, second and third Jamaica Local Examinations between 1949 and 1951. Then in 1952, he was successful in the first year teachers' college examinations.

In pursuit of his dream, he enrolled in the Jamaica School of Agriculture in 1955, and graduated three years later with an honours diploma. He was successful in obtaining employment with the Ministry of Education as an agricultural science teacher. He later gained employment with the Ministry of Agriculture as an agricultural science officer, agricultural credit officer with the agricultural credit board.

The wealth of knowledge and experience acquired over the years was often shared with farmers in the hills of north-western St. Elizabeth. Mr. Daley would often visit them to demonstrate proper crop culture, as well as to instruct them on how to control crop and animal diseases.

His contribution to the development of his community includes being a Justice of the Peace since 1974 and one of the pioneers for the JAMAL Movement. He has also served as chairman of the St. Elizabeth 4-H Advisory Council, the St. Elizabeth Advisory Committee and a host of other civic organizations.